You can find detailed instructions along with pictures for just about any Pilates mat exercise you are looking for right here at pilates.about.com. Written instructions offer a lot of benefits in that you can take your time studying them and practice at your own pace. Also, they often offer more depth than you find in a video clip. However, witnessing a beautifully performed move can provide extremely helpful insight into an exercise. So I've been out and about on the Internet, finding the best online Pilates video clips to recommend to you.
My criteria are that the video is free, easy to see, and that the exercises are performed with excellent form and clear verbal instructions.
My top three choices for free online video clips for 2008 are from:
- Pilates on Fifth: This is my current favorite set of video clips. The owners of Pilates on Fifth, Katherine and Kimberly Corp, demonstrate the mat exercises with excellent form and instruct with an appealing, gentle attitude.
- VideoJug.com: You will find a great variety of videos here, all from the same instructor who is (unfortunately) not named. There is basic Pilates mat work as well as exercises with equipment like the exercise ball and the fitness band.
- Jillian Hessel: Jillian Hessel is an accomplished Pilates instructor. These are mostly promotional clips but they are still instructive. There is also a clip of Joseph Pilates working out -- something you don't get to see everyday. You need QuickTime to view these clips.
- Clips of Note - Pilates on YouTube: There is a lot of Pilates to be found on YouTube. The problem is that it is a mixed bag. I did find a few instructors who I thought were good. If you like YouTube, some Pilates videos that you might want to look for are those from Sparkpeople, GaiamSearch and Lazic.
One of the best ways to take advantage of exercises that you find on video clips is to also look them up in the Pilates mat exercise instructions so that you can get more detailed instruction to go with the video.
Do you have a favorite online Pilates video? Tell us about it in the video/DVD discussion at the About.com Pilates Forum.
